Lausanne

Travel and Tourist Information

ABOVE: A panoramic view of Lausanne, Lac Léman,
and the French Alps.

By Durant Imboden

Lausannemay be the
capital of Vaud, but it isn't your typical cantonal seat. This picturesque, hilly
city of 125,000 has vied with Geneva as the intellectual and cultural center of
French-speaking Switzerland for centuries.

Lausanne is a convenient place to spend a few
days
while touring Switzerland, since its railroad station is a connecting point for trains
between France, Geneva, Bern, and the skiing and mountaineering resorts of the Valais. And
if you're tempted to skip Geneva because you don't have time to do that city properly,
Lausanne is a practical (and manageable) alternative.

Something old, something new

The Cité, or old town, is uphill from the
train station. It's packed with fine buildings--among them, Switzerland's largest
cathedral, which has been Protestant since the 15th Century. Other landmarks include the
17th Century Hôtel de Ville (city hall), the Palais du Rumine (occupied by several
museums), the Château St-Maire (a former bishops' castle), and the Ancienne-Académie
(the University of Lausanne's former home).

Heading in the opposite direction--i.e., downhill--you
can walk or take public transport from the railroad station to the lakeside
port-resort of Ouchy. This former fishing village, now a part of
Lausanne, is
a great place to stroll along the shores of Lac Léman (a.k.a. Lake Geneva), catch a
lake steamer to Geneva or Montreux, or spend a
lively evening on the waterfront during the summer months.